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Press
Thursday 4 February 2010 (19 Safar 1431)
Know your rights
Saad Al-Rifaie | Al-Madinah
Have you ever been stopped by a security officer without knowing the
reason? Do you know what you should and should not do in that situation? Have
you ever been bewildered by a lost job right and did not know the proper
procedures for reprieve? Have you ever been subjected to financial or
commercial fraud and did not know where to complain?
What prompted me to ask these questions was the absence of what could be
called the "culture of rights." Not many people in our country are fully aware
of their rights and duties. People only know to go to the police whenever they
have a problem.
The citizens grow up respecting the police uniform because policemen
deserve all the respect as guardians of public safety and national security.
But everyone - cops, professionals, officials and citizens - reside
inside the general culture and are liable to make mistakes because the concept
of rights and duties is not crystal clear.
Based on this, I call for organizing an annual awareness day or week
under the slogan "Know Your Rights" where various activities could be prepared
to focus on spreading this "culture of rights." Booklets can be printed and
distributed listing citizens' rights and duties - from traffic law to land and
financial rights to rights in the workplace.
The spreading of this awareness would make partners between citizens and
the government. When citizens come to realize their rights they also become
committed to their duties.
The spread of this culture of rights would prevent many violations
committed by a category of people who exploit the ignorance of citizens
regarding their rights. This would also cut the number of complaints to
unconcerned departments.
When citizens are fully aware of their rights, they know where to go
directly instead of losing time and causing trouble at unconcerned departments.
The schools can also educate our youth regarding their rights and duties
so that when they grow up they become citizens armed with this knowledge.
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